Man accused of shooting ex-girlfriend's husband set for trial

San Diego 
A man accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend's husband because she wouldn't let him take his son on a fishing trip will go to trial next month.

Superior Court Judge Bernard E. Revak said Thursday morning that there was sufficient evidence to have Michael Dennis Keeper, 34, answer charges that include premeditated attempted murder and discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury.

Jennifer Loveless, Keeper's ex-girlfriend, testified that Keeper shot her husband, Matt, multiple times on Dec. 5 outside her Tierrasanta house. Matt Loveless was seriously injured and was in an induced coma for three weeks after the shooting. He has no feeling below his waist and has had to re-learn how to speak, she said.

Jennifer Loveless testified that Keeper became agitated and angry because he insisted on taking their 13-year-old son, Brandon, on a fishing trip that weekend at Santee Lakes.

The couple's son said he didn't want to go with his father because he had a soccer tournament that weekend, Loveless said.

In the hours leading up to the shooting, Loveless and her husband attended his company Christmas party at the San Diego Naval Base at 32nd Street, she said.

After a series of phone calls between Keeper and the son, Loveless and her husband decided to head home from the party about 10 p.m.

Keeper showed up at the house about the same time, Loveless said.

Steve Callihan, Keeper's longtime best friend, was riding in Keeper's minivan and witnessed the shooting. Callihan said he was unaware that Keeper was armed.

On their way to pick up Keeper's son, he appeared normal, Callihan said, but he noted that Keeper said, “Jenny's husband better not get in my face.”

Callihan and Loveless both testified that Keeper and Matt Loveless argued on the sidewalk about the fishing trip for several minutes. The argument intensified and Callihan testified that he tried to push the men away from each other.

During the argument, Keeper pulled out a revolver and pointed the gun at Matt Loveless' chest at close range, Callihan and Jennifer Loveless both said.

Loveless asked Keeper, who at one point had lowered the weapon, “What? Are you going to shoot me?” He then picked up Keeper's hand and pointed the gun at himself, Callihan said.

Keeper fired two shots at Loveless while he was standing up and shot again at his face as he was lying on the ground, Callihan testified.

He fired a fourth shot into a building and a fifth round at the sidewalk, Callihan said.

After the shooting, Keeper got in a minivan and drove away.

San Diego police Officer Eric Oberndorfer testified that Keeper failed to pull over and officers chased him to Spring Street near Grossmont Center. Keeper's minivan broke down during the police chase, Oberndorfer said.

He was taken into custody. A gun found inside his minivan had five spent shell casings and a single bullet left in the chamber, police said.